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Reus Attacks to Take Junior Men?s Road Race

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Reus crosses the finish line 14 seconds ahead of Anders Lund of Denmark who finished second and Lukaz Fus of the Czech Republic who was third. Photo copyright Fotoreporter Sirotti.

Reus Attacks to Take Junior Men?s Road Race

It was in the midst the 10th and final lap of the Men?s Junior Road Race Saturday morning. There were about 5 km to go in the 124 km race. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>

It was in the midst the 10th and final lap of the Men?s Junior Road Race Saturday morning. There were about 5 km to go in the 124 km race. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>Holland?s Kai Reus had and his teammate Sebastian Langeveld had figured in a number of attacks but, at that point, their efforts were inconclusive. Who should attack now? They decided it would be Reus. Langeveld, a superior sprinter, could stay back and wait for an opportunity on the straight to the finish line in front of Hamilton?s City Hall.

So much for strategy. Reus attacked and quickly built up about a 14-second lead. Some thought he had made the move too soon. He would simply tire himself out and get caught.

But, no. He persevered and got into a rhythm. Others tried but could not make headway against him. He was in a groove and there he stayed until he crossed the finish line, 14 seconds ahead of Anders Lund of Denmark who finished second and Lukaz Fus of the Czech Republic who was third.

Reus?s winning time was three hours, one minute and 30 seconds for an average speed of 40.991 km.

The 18-year-old from the north of Holland said he wasn?t thinking about too much when he took off except ?I?m gonna win this race.?

The race began in a foggy, misty conditions that persisted through much of the race. Reus said this wasn?t a problem. But these conditions may have been responsible for a crash during the second lap on the James St.

descent where riders sometimes reach speeds approaching 90 km. Four riders tumbled and one, Kevin Lacombe of Canada, was taken to hospital with a concussion. X-rays did not show any broken bones and a CT scan was negative. A crash during the Canadian Nationals last June in the women?s road race happened at the very same spot on the course. Several riders were injured in that one.